July 1: The Expanse 3x13

[kinetic_elaboration]

Finished S3 of The Expanse. That was… fine. I liked it, though not quite as much as the episode previous. The thing is, let’s see if I can explain this, I definitely got the contour of the plot-type they were doing, and it is a satisfying one: all the disparate characters, representing their disparate factions, get together and enact an elaborate plan against high odds to save the day against some sort of evildoer. The stakes are high, the pace is fast, and seeing everyone being used in their own specific and unique roles, and every part of the plan coming together ultimately and being successful, feels very exciting. So I enjoyed, like, the tropes. The rhythm of it.

But I was also so aware of it being Trope Central, and, more importantly, I am just not convinced about the set up of the high stakes situation and I don’t fully believe the evildoer. I don’t get Ashford. I thought I understood him last episode. He did seem to have a sort of logic to his ideas, bleak as they were. But it seemed like if another plan were brought to him, he should just… agree with it. Like, why does he actively want to run a suicide mission? Why does he stick to it when there is any other option, however attenuated? Just because he doesn’t believe in it? That’s not very logical. As the guy on the Thomas Prince says, if they try and it doesn’t work, they suffer the same fate as not trying at all, so why would you do anything other than give it a go. Or does Ashford just not want anyone else to be right? Is he so attached to his power he’ll kill himself and everyone else for it? He does give more of an explanation not quite halfway into the episode, about wanting to destroy the Ring so no one else can ever explore it, agitate it, or risk angering it again. But it’s still deranged. This isn’t enough for me. His place as the antagonist felt really shoe-horned. It felt like… you just have to believe there is an Obstacle here, the obstacle isn’t really going to be explained, just go along with it

 

Otherwise I kinda like 80% get the overall concept. The alien entity is powerful but in an ultimately defensive posture, so you prove to it you’re not a threat, and you are not harmed. Standard enough. What it did after not being threatened I didn’t full get. The gate was opened? Okay, sure. I have to admit, this one is on me because I was finding it hard to pay attention at this point. But the idea of opening up the universe of the show to more worlds and of a new ‘gold rush’ is sort of interesting and could go to worthwhile places, possibly.

I did not at all get what the Mao sister was doing at this point. Somehow she went from mysterious figure to figure with an actual back story and somewhat coherent mission (emphasis on somewhat because I can’t recall it anymore, why it was that Holden was in her sights specifically), to just Evil Figure. She’s killed a lot of people, so to do penance, she helps the good guys with one big, bombastic, and decisive gesture at the end. But, like, why was she on a violent revenge mission again? I cannot recall. She felt so random by the end, like her whole story had functionally petered out. She could have been anyone.

I also don’t get what is actually going on with Miller, or “Miller.” I’d been assuming he was the Ring itself, alien matter itself. Maybe a little bit of the real Miller was in there, or maybe it was entirely his likeness and thought patterns used by a different entity, or maybe this distinction is hair-splitting. But Holden’s voiceover at the end somewhat implied he was a separate Thing. Some Being with his own agenda, which pertains to the Ring and the station but is not coming from the Ring or the station and if so I am not only lost but I’ve been lost for a long time.

A few quick final observations:

I liked the concept of one of the Gang being the one to speak to the people and not only spread their message but sort of keep hope going and so on, and that role makes sense for Anna but also…. Ugh, Anna. Still the worst. So glad I’ll never see her again. The only reason she looked like such a great negotiator was because she was compared to Amos, who is… not.

Bobbie giving her big speech and then afterward Alex recognizing her was so funny and cute.

Drummer 100% has a huge crush on Naomi. I don’t ship it personally—mostly because I’m not the biggest fan of Drummer and the reason for that is that I find her voice very obnoxious—but I almost wish I could be invested in the threesome dynamic this reading creates. Like I wish I cared for her and Holden just being Weird together. But I don’t. I also don’t care about Holden/Naomi: another aspect of the show that might have held my attention once but not anymore.

Listening to Anna talk to Amos is actually almost funny. He is quite insistent on being a character for whom it is not that deep. And frankly he should never stray from that.

I hope the brief shot of Chrisjen at the end is a sign that she’ll FINALLY be coming back next season.

I totally forgot the reporters even existed lol. Did the camera man die off screen or did I see that and just forget?

RIP Diogo I guess. I think a looney tunes death was rather appropriate for him at this point.